Cesc Fàbregas

Cesc Fàbregas

• Signed by Arsenal from Barcelona in September 2003, Fàbregas became the Gunners' youngest first-team player (at 16 years 177 days, League Cup tie against Rotherham United FC) and goalscorer (16 years 212 days, 5-1 League Cup defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC) later that season.

• Became Arsenal's midfield linchpin following the sale of Patrick Vieira and, with majestic individual performances against Real Madrid CF and Vieira's new employers Juventus, helped the Gunners to the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Barça, which they lost 2-1 in Paris.

• Player of the tournament and top scorer at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland, where Spain finished runners-up to Brazil. In Spain's squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2008, beginning both on the bench; started the final of the latter after a decisive penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Italy.

• Injured for much of 2008/09 − shortly after assuming the Arsenal captaincy − he scored a career-best 15 league goals the following campaign; left the club with just an FA Cup winners' medal to his name in summer 2011 when he rejoined Barcelona in a €39m transfer.

• A squad player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he played the pass for Andrés Iniesta to score Spain's extra-time winner in the final against the Netherlands.

• On target in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup against FC Porto and FIFA Club World Cup final; named in the Spain squad for UEFA EURO 2012 and scored twice as the Roja retained their trophy in Poland and Ukraine, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.

• Severed his ties with Barcelona for a second time on the eve of the 2014 World Cup, having won one Liga title in three seasons, when he signed for Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea on a five-year deal.

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